If there was one strong argument to be made for the Pittsburgh Steelers adding WR help at the trade deadline, it’s the question of what their offense looks like in a world where DK Metcalf gets injured. One former GM thinks that by passing on any trades, the Steelers are taking a big chance.
“I do not feel good in the case that, okay, you have somebody that defensive coordinators are scheming to take out of the game in DK Metcalf. Now if he’s gone, there’s no one that really threatens you. So now that whole defensive scheme can be set to shut down those receiving options that are left that are not as dynamic,” Doug Whaley said Wednesday via 93.7 The Fan’s Morning Show. “They’re rolling the dice.”
While fair, that same argument can be made for one position or another on just about every NFL roster. Most teams are one edge rusher, offensive tackle, running back, or defensive back injury away from a major issue that’s ripe for exploitation. And every team in the league faces dire consequences if the quarterback goes down.
Metcalf has only missed three out of a possible 108 games in his career. If there’s one receiver to gamble on his durability, it’s him.
And are we so sure that the Steelers don’t have other dynamic threats on the team? Roman Wilson has barely played, and aside from his one “boneheaded” play against the Colts, has looked really good in limited opportunities. And everybody knows that Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, and even Darnell Washington are being underutilized. Even Calvin Austin III has continually gotten better in each season of his career and is now a pretty dependable receiver.
It would have arguably been an even bigger gamble to spend a first-round pick on someone like Jaylen Waddle. Sure, it absolutely would have made the team better right now, but who is throwing them the ball next season? In the end, the Steelers were willing to take the risk to protect their draft capital, which has been one of their central strategies dating back to the start of the new league year in March.
Maybe they would have more strongly considered trading for a wide receiver had their defense not gotten embarrassed by the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers in recent weeks.
Whaley’s argument is fair, but sacrificing valuable draft capital to go all-in on a shaky team would have been just as big of a gamble.
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